Elcan Optical Technologies has been awarded a $180 million contract to procure, deliver and maintain orders of the Medium Range Thermal Bi-Ocular system — a technology that will be used by Marine rifle squads, machine gun squads and the Marine Corps to conduct visual surveillance using the system’s thermal imaging capabilities.

 

The U.S. Department of Defense announced the awarding of the contract to Richardson-based Elcan Optical Technologies this week.

 

The imaging systems will be an integral part of military offensive and defensive operations, the Defense Department said.

 

All work on the systems will be completed in Richardson with Elcan expected to finish the project in January of 2014.